Vehicle-wheel



(No Model.)

E C.E.EULELEY.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

No. 578,035. PatentedMar. 2, 1897.

- lates-3&5."

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. BULKLEY, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,035, dated March 2,1897.

Application ned Aprn 16, 1896.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES E. BULKLEY,

' a citizen of the United States,residing at Summit, in the county ofUnion and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Vehicle-lVheelspf which the following is a specication.

The invention relates more particularly to wheels for bicycles and likevehicles, in which strength,lightness, and resiliency are the mostnecessary characteristics. Pneumatic tires secured to light and strongrims are perhaps the nearest approach to perfection previously attained,but the liability to puncture is great, and unless means for repairingare at hand in case of such accident the wheel is useless. A wheelembodying the good points of the aircushion without its attendantdisadvantages is much to be desired; The present invention is intendedto supply such, and it is believed successfully attains that object.

It consists of an annulus or hollow ring of steel or other strong andresilient material forming the wheel-rim, receiving the spokes on theinner face and having a continuous open channel or slot cut through tothe interior on the periphery along the line of the tread.

When a load is applied, the rim tends to flatten at the point in contactwith the ground into an approximately elliptical cross-section byincreasing the width. This tendency is resisted bythe stiffness of thecurved springs forming the sides of the rim. The resistance increases inproportion to the weight of the load vfor the reason that the effectivelength `of the springs is reduced by the amount of the increased areathereby brought in contact with the ground.

In the most approved form of the invention the cross-section of the rimis crescent-shaped being thicker along the line at the junction with thespokes and gradually thinning in both directions toward the slot. Theedges or lips so produced engage and hold an annular shoe or thread ofsoft vulcanized rubber, grooved on the opposite faces to receive them.The portion of the shoe exterior to the rim is curved away from thelatter on the adjacent face, so thatthe flattening of the rim and thecompression of the shoe combine to Serial N o. 587,850. (No model.)

close the joint between them and thus lessen the effective length of thesprings. A narrow flange of rubber forming another portion of the shoeextends vertically across the interior of the rim and aids in resistingthe tendency to iiatten.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification. Figure 1 isa side view of acomplete Wheel constructed in accordance withmyinvention. The remaining figures are on a larger scale. Fig. 2 is across-section through the rim and shoe. Fig. 3 isa corresponding viewshowing the form assumed by the same parts when sustaining a load. Fig.4L is an edge view of a portion of the rim alone. Fig. 5 is a face viewof aportion of the shoe. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are cross-sectional 'viewsshowing several modiiied forms of the rim alone.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, which show the invention in itsmost com plete form, A is the wheel-rim, of steel or other materialhaving a high degree of elasticity. It is produced in th'e form of astrip thickened along the center line and gradually thinned toward eachedge. The strip is rolled into tubular form by treatment in suitabledies or otherwise bringing the edges nearly in contact with each other,and the ends are joined by brazing to form a hollow annulus, the sectionof which shows as a crescent, thicker at A and terminating in the thinlips A2 A2. A central rib A8 on the inner surface of the portion Aextends completely around and aords sufcient metal in which to set thespokes I, which may be of any of the well-known forms and secured in anyordinary or approved manner. I have in these figures shown them asscrewed into holes drilled and tapped at the proper intervals in therim.

The adjacent edges of the lips are smoothly finished and rounded toavoid cutting and match to annular grooves b b, provided on each face ofa ring of soft vulcanized rubber B. This shoe is inserted by forciblyparting the lips A2 and crowding it through the peripheral slot abetween them. It aords means for insuring a reliable frictional hold onthe ground and comprises the tread B',

IOO

" of the grooves b upon the lips.

connected by the narrow neck B2 between the grooves l) IJ to thesupporting-fiange B2, eX- tending vertically across the interior of therim and finding a bearing against the face of the rib A2'. The ange isthickened just above the neck at Bl to match to and increase itseffective base on the inner face of the lips A2 and tapers slightlytherefrom.

The portion B', forming the tread, is elliptical in cross-section, asshown, the upper surface curving away from the adjacent faces of thelips, so as to lie against a narrow line only on each close to the edgewhen the Wheel is not sustaining a load. Vhen the load is applied, as bya person mounting the wheel, the tread B attens somewhat at the point incontact with the ground, as does also the rim A, the several partsassuming positions approximating those shown in Fig. 3, increasing thearea of the joint between the lips A2 and the shoe, thereby reducing thelength of the free arms o'f the crescent on each side, forcing theflexion to take place at points farther from the lips and where themetal is thicker and correspondingly stiifer. The iange B3 is alsocompressed, thereby extending the bearing-surface forming its base andassisting the tread B in holding the thin edges A2 against springing,and also by acting strutwise between the lips and the rib A3 resists thetendency of the rim to shorten its diameter on that line.

The elasticity or resiliency may be described as obtaining in threeportions of the rim and shoe: rst and principally, in the springs formedby the curved sides of the rim; secondly, in the compression of thetread of the shoe, and, third, in the compression of the flange B3. Inapplying a light load the first effect is to deflect inward the sides ofthe rim nearest the lips A2, to slightly compress the tread B and alsothe flange B2, ifthe latter fills the space very exactly. A furtheraccession of weight still further flattens the cross-section of the rim,compresses the tread of the shoe, and closes the surfaces rIhe iiangeasserts itself by opposing its mass to the crushing strain and anyadditional weight finds all the parts Working together to resist furtherdepression.

By dispensing with the usual rim and tire and substituting the form hereshown a considerable saving in weight may be effected, but the mainadvantage in this invention is the freedom from the evils of puncture,which require either that the rider be equipped with a repair kit andsufficient mechanical skill to use it or rely on ndin g a repair-shop atwhich the leak may be stopped. The construction here shown will allowthe rider to continue, if necessar f, even though the rubber shoe be cutentirely through and rendered useless by riding with the curved sides ofthe rim in di rect contact with the ground, the resiliency afforded bythe spring of the rim being sufficient to enable him to ride withoutserious discomfort or danger of damage to the wheel.

It is believed that the peculiar effect of the pneumatic tire, namely,the property of momentarily embedding within itself any smallobstruction in its path instead of requiring the entire load to belifted in surmounting it, will be found to a great degree in this modeof construction.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions within widelimits without departing from the principle of the invention orsacrificing its advantages.

Fig. 6 shows a similar shape, but made from a strip of uniform thicknessthroughout. The strengthening-rib A3 is here shown as a separatereinforcing-piece secured in position by riveting or otherwise. v

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the rim is built up of severalslotted tubes one Within the other, each having a narrower slot than theone it incloses. This form will have an action somewhat analogous toaleaf-spring.7

Fig. S shows a triangular form of cross-section.

I may, if it is deemed expedient, soften the yielding action of thesprings by producing transverse slots or openings in the sides, or theends of such slots may be cut away to form teeth or iin gers of greateror less length engaging the shoe between their tips or ends.

The material has been described as steel throughout this specification,and I believe such to be generally preferable, but other metals may beused and any suitable materials, including hard rubber, gutta-percha, orCelluloid in its various forms.

The best proportions in regard to the thickness of the rim, width oftread of the shoe, distance between the lips, and the like have not beenfully determined and will depend in great measure on the material used.The drawings show these details as designed for steel.

Although I have described the invention as applied to a wheel-rim, itwill be understood that it may be made to serve independently as a tireand be attached to any of the usual forms of rims to which it isadaptable.

I claiml. In a vehicleewheel, a tubular rim of resilient material,having a peripheral slot on the line of the tread, the free edges andside walls of the tube serving as springs to support the load, incombination with an annular shoe serving as a bearing-surface for thewheel, and having a flange B3 bearing against the inner face of the rimdiametrically opposite said slot, substantially as herein specified.

2. In a vehicle-wheel, a tubular rim of resilient material having aperipheral slot on the line of the tread, the free edges and side wallsof the tube serving as springs to support the load, in combination withan annular shoe matching said slot and held therein to IOO IIO

serve as a bearing-surface for the Wheel, and having a supporting-Harigeextending across the rim and bearing against the inner face thereofdiametrically opposite said slot, all substantially as herein specified.

3. In a vehicle-Wheel, a tubular rim of resilient material, reinforcedinteriorly along the line of attachment of the spokes to receive thelatter and having a peripheral slot on the line of the tread, incombinationwith an annular shoe matching to and held insa-id slot toserve as a bearing-surface for the load and having a portion extendingacross the rim and bearing on said reinforce, substantially as hereinspecified.

4. In a vehicle-Wheel, a tubular rim of resilient material, receivingthe spokes in a thickened portion and gradually thinned therefrom towarda peripheral slot formed on the line of the tread, in combination withan annular shoe matching to and held in said slot to serve as abearing-surface for the Wheel and having a portion extending across therim and bearing against said thickened portion, substantially as hereinspecified.

5. In a vehicle-Wheel, the tubular rim crescent-shaped in cross-section,the thickened portion A receiving the spokes, and the thin lips A2having their adjacent ends rounded and the peripheral slot a betweenthem, in combination With the annular shoe having` the grooves b engagedby said lips, the neck being thickened to form the bearing-surface B4 onthe interior of the rim and the tread B on the exterior thereof and theflange B3 Within the rim, all substantially as herein` specified.

6. In a vehicle-Wheel, the tubular rim crescent-shaped in cross-section,the thickened portion A receiving the spokes, the additionalstrengthening-rib A3 thereon, and the thin lips A2 having the peripheralslot a between them, in combination With an annular shoe having groovesb engaged by said lips, the bearing-surface B4 on the interior face ofthe rim, the tread B' on the exterior thereof and the iange B3 extendingvertically across the interior of the rim and abutting against said rim,all substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I afx mysignature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES E. BULKLEY.

Vitnesses:

VICTOR G. REYNOLDS, LoUIs A. REPETTO.

